Halfway between a
rich natural history
museum and an attic
full of treasures is
this week's new
Natural Curiosities
series. Explore
every nook and
cranny where
anything is possible, and find a
delightful medley of
designs full of
carefree Victorian
charm. Step inside
and discover the
wonders that await
your crafty
imagination!

Loved
the
Victorian Flower
Language designs?
Then you'll adore a
new flock of
Victorian Feathers
-- brilliantly
detailed birds rich
with traditional
symbolism. Stitch
the lovely look of
vintage scientific
nature illustrations
with a quartet of
Antique Botanicals.
A light, colourful
look makes collages
of
Timeless Treasures
charming on totes,
tea towels, and more
decor. A
Shadowbox puts a
collection of
romantic trinkets
and found objects on
display. And lively
Nature Notes
mingle music and
writing with vibrant
creatures in a
fresh, sentimental
style.

Let
this infinitely
mix-and-match-able
embroidery surround
you in a look that's
part shabby chic,
part Victorian
nostalgia, and all
enchantment. Explore
the page below and
discover delightful
new embroidery to
inspire your natural
curiosity!

Probably as long as humans
have watched birds, they've associated them
with rich meaning -- the owl with wisdom,
the dove with peace, the bluebird with
happiness. These designs, modeled on the
Victorian flower language embroidery you
know and love, illustrate six of these
popular pairings in rich, joyful colour. Let
them inspire a crafty flight of fancy --
stitch them on pillows, tote bags, quilts,
or anything else your heart desires, and
feather your nest with old-fashioned flair.

The bluebird of happiness
is an idea that recurs in cultures
throughout the world. Its appearance is a
delightful symbol of youth, innocence, and
all-around cheerfulness.

Sometimes
all it takes is imagining a project in
different fabrics and colours to give you a
whole new style. This
Rag Quilt Table Runner was made with a
sashiko applique design and brightly coloured
prints. Imagine: switch the Asian fabrics
for soft pastel cottons, and stitch a favourite Victorian bird on the centerpiece
before you assemble it. Instant shabby chic
elegance, made one-of-a-kind by your
creativity!

Botanical illustrations are a
delightfully unexpected decor element. We've
crafted gorgeous
botanical designs before, but these take
the look a step further, labelling and
diagramming familiar flowers in new,
artistic views. Stitch these brilliant
designs one at a time on totes or pillows,
or combine them all in a pretty table topper
or wall hanging.

A brilliant butterfly
perches on the deep orange, speckled petals
of the tiger lily, a favourite North American
garden flower.

Here's
another exercise in imagination. This
Ribbon Ruffle Pillow is made with
bright, exotic fabric and trims -- but swap
them for something a little softer, and
you'll have the perfect project to showcase
these delicate botanical designs. Stitch on
a white or pastel home-decor-weight cotton,
then add silky ribbons and cotton eyelet
trim -- maybe even a few buttons and charms!

Embellish chic tea towels, quilter's cotton,
and lots more with an enchanting collage of
antique trinkets! Very light, almost like
redwork, this design is a perfect pick for
delicate fabrics. Each romantic element is
available as a separate design below, to
give you endless creative possibilities!

These
antique collage designs are full of
delightful detail -- but they're still open
and airy, perfect for stitching on light
fabrics such as
tea towels. These chic designs are sure
to be a hit in a special present for a
friend or at a craft fair, and tea towels
are the perfect place to display them.
(They'll work beautifully on
quilter's cotton, too!)

Here's a
project worthy of your treasured Victorian
embroidery! A fancy fabric-covered
keepsake box is a perfect place to stash
mementos and special treasures. Embroider
your favourite design, then add beads and
embellishments to finish it off beautifully.

Soft music floats behind a graceful
butterfly in this sweet design. Stitch it in
a cheerful rainbow of colours, or create
dramatic contrast with brown "notes" on a
tan fabric, juxtaposed with brilliantly coloured wings.

Have a look at these sweet specimens! This
pair of Sunbonnet Sue and Fisherman Fred
designs have a special twist -- they're
styled just like this week's gorgeous
Victorian bird designs! Dressed to the
nines in fabulous Victorian fashions,
they'll be charming on quilts, totes, wall
hangings, and more.